United States and Isiolo County Sign Memorandum of Understanding

Mark Meassick, USAID Mission Director, U.S. Embassy Nairobi and Isiolo County Governor H.E. Dr. Mohamed Kuti sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Isiolo County for Kenyan-led development at the county-level.

Isiolo, Kenya, January 29, 2020 – The U.S. Government, through USAID, and the County of Isiolo signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that signifies a joint commitment to Kenyan-led development in Isiolo County. The MOU reflects their shared vision for ugatuzi or devolution in the county that meets the needs of its residents.

“The United States Government is shifting the way we work. We want our programs to be co-created, co-implemented, and co-measured to address problems and solve them at the county level,” explained USAID Mission Director Mark Meassick.

This MOU provides a framework to guide the new way that USAID and Isiolo County will do business together, including: aligning activities, plans and budgets; designing new programs and priorities together; jointly monitoring and evaluating programs; and working together to counter corruption and protect beneficiaries.

USAID’s new policy is to end the need for foreign assistance by transforming the relationships between the public, civil society, and private sectors to generate opportunities for all Kenyans. Together, Americans and Kenyans will accelerate the county’s journey to self-reliance.

“Today’s MOU cements our friendship and provides impetus to sustainable solutions grown at the county level. I am grateful to USAID for creating such a platform that allows us contribute to a collaborative development process pivoted on shared perspectives, it is such partnerships that my government strives to build,” states H.E DR. Mohamed Kuti, Governor, Isiolo County.

The MOU was signed by Mission Director Mark Meassick and Isiolo County Governor H.E. Dr. Mohamed Kuti. Isiolo County is a focus county under the U.S. Government’s Prosper Africa initiative to increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and Kenya at the county level.